Particulate containment control for structured support beams

ABSTRACT

A reusable mobile self-retaining containment barrier shield for structural beams used in bridge construction that provide for a self-sealing adaptable frame support for containment sheeting between support beams. At least two telescopically extensible frame elements adjustably interengage with one another against and between the adjacent support beam openings with entrapment flexible sheeting tarp selectively secured thereto sealing the “end channels” between the beams during reconditioning and painting for retainment of contaminated spent cleaning abrasives.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/174,912, filed Jun. 12, 2015.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This device relates to environmental containment systems used to limit the spread of contaminated blasting material used in cleaning and preparing structural surfaces during reconditioning.

2. Description of Prior Art

Prior art devices of this type have been directed to onsite construction wherein wood framing is custom cut and assembled to form a custom support frame between the open ends adjacent structural beams used in bridges and the like. Said custom onsite stick built frames are then typically sealed in place with expanding synthetic foam to form a gasket and tarps are attached from the surface forming a containment and the bulk head.

A number of prior art patents illustrate different general platform and sheeting supports to contain and direct spent product and sand and shot blasting with entrained contaminants safe from the environment, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,429,764, 4,854,419, 5,011,710, 5,481,832, for example.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An interengageable adjustable reusable intermediate bridge beam containment insert system that provides for a universal inter-engageable sections of telescopically extensible adjustable tubular elements that inter-engage with one another and extend to form a containment self-supporting perimeter support frame over which a flexible sheet barrier material is integrally secured.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the beam containment barrier device in use position.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the beam containment barrier with a retainment tarp shown broken away is attached thereto in use position.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the beam containment barrier as assembled in semi-collapsed non-engaged prior use condition.

FIG. 4 is a partial front elevational view of the beam containment barrier in extended position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view on lines 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial elevational view with portions broken away of the threaded rod engagement adjustment fitting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings, an adjustable containment barrier 10 of the invention can be seen having a pair of identical inter-engaging telescopically extensible tubular assemblies 11 and 12. Each of the defined extensible assemblies 11 and 12 have a pair of telescopically engaged right angular support elements, 11A, 11B and 12A, 12B respectively. The right angular support elements 11A and 12A have respective threaded rod housings 13 secured thereto inwardly of their respective ends 14. A threaded adjustment rod 15 secured to (by welding) and extends from the corresponding support elements 11B and 12B at inwardly from its point of angular attachment to said support elements 11A and 12B as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6 of the drawings. The tubular support elements 11A and 12A are slidably disposed over the corresponding aligned tubular elements 11B and 12B respectively with the threaded rod 15 registerable in the corresponding rod housing 13. It will thus be seen that each of the threaded rods 15 have an adjustable nut and wash assembly 17 thereon, so as to effectively advance the right angular support elements 11A and 12A with their correspondingly attached rod housing 13 along the corresponding tubular elements 11B and 12B, as seen in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

The hereinbefore described extensible tubular assemblies 11 and 12 are selectively and adjustably secured to one another as seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings to form the multi-sided containment barrier 10 by a pair of tubular insert sections 18 and 19, interconnecting the corresponding respective free ends of the effacing opposing angular support elements 11A and 12A and 11B and 12B, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5 of the drawings. Set screws S are oppositely disposed through aligned end apertures on the respective opposing free ends and corresponding adjustably engage and retain the corresponding tubular insert sections 17 and 18. The set screws S may be of different design configurations than, in this example. Rubber engagement pads 24 are secured to outside corner surfaces of each of the assemblies 11 and 12 to aid in frictional retainment. Additionally, end tube closer caps 25 are inserted into open tubular frame ends, as in support elements 11B and 12B in this example.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, containment barrier 10 of the invention can be seen adjustably fitted within and between two parallel structural beams 20 and 21 by the effective adjustable insert sections 17 and 18 and the threaded rods 15, so as to extend each of the assemblies 11 and 12 apart independently securing the containment barrier 10 between the beams 20 and 21.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, a flexible containment bulkhead tarp assembly 23 formed with three closed edges 23A, 23B and 23C and a bottom open edge 23D. The tarp assembly 23 is slipped over the assembled containment frame and extend there below at 23B between two beams 20A and 21A. This applied orientation assures a continuous barrior over the containment frame. Additionally, expanded reusable foam strips 26 are provided so as to be selectively inserted over the assembled containment frame three engaged surfaces to assure a positive seal is achieved.

It will be noted that the hereinbefore disclosed containment bulkhead 10 for structural support beams can also provide for outer end beam containment applications so as to be used to form an outside end enclosure combination as will be well understood by those skilled in the art.

It will be seen that by adjusting the inter-engaging tubular assemblies 11 and 12 as hereinbefore described that the containment barrier 10 can be easily and quickly adapted to fit into a variety of different openings requiring the containment barrier and thus becomes universally adaptable in a number of onsite work venues.

It will thus be seen that a new and novel containment barrier has been illustrated and described and though it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. 

Therefore I claim:
 1. A containment barrier for a bridge supports used in sandblasting operations, said barrier comprising, a pair of telescopically extensible tubular assemblies selectively secured together to form a continuous support frame, said tubular assemblies comprises, a first right angular support element and a second right angular support element, moveably engaged thereon, a fixed threaded rod extending from said first right angular support element, adapted for threaded registration with said second right angular support element for adjustable advancement thereto, means for adjustably securing said tubular assemblies in aligned orientation to one another, and a flexible bulkhead tarp slidably positioned over said so constructed continuous support frame.
 2. The containment barrier for bridge supports set forth in claim 1 wherein said threaded rod adapted threaded registration with said right angular support element comprises, a rod housing secured to said second right angular support element, an adjustment nut and washer on said threaded rod registerable against said rod housing, advancing said housing and said secondary right angular support element along said rod.
 3. The containment barrier for bridge support set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for adjustably securing said adjustable telescopically extensible tubular assemblies and aligned end to end orientation to one another comprises, insert sections within and extending between said respectable of aligned free ends of said adjustable telescopic extensible tubular assemblies, adjustable retaining screws threadably disposed through said aligned free ends engaging said insert therebetween.
 4. The containment barrier for bridge supports set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible bulkhead tarp comprises, an open bottom enclosure extending beyond a corresponding portion of said continuous support frame.
 5. The containment barrier for bridge supports set forth in claim 1 wherein auxiliary resilient foam strips are selectively positioned between said continuous support frame and irregular frame engagement surfaces. 